Dark Academia books to add to your autumn TBR

The 'ber months are here, and with the weather turning colder, here are some Dark Academia books to add to your autumn TBR.

A genre of fiction that I've tried to read more of this year is Dark Academia. I'd heard of the term 'Dark Academia' before, but I had never really explored novels within the genre.

However, after specialising in Dark Academia literature for the final year of my undergraduate degree, I wanted to read more books that were marketed as Dark Academia fiction. And I loved them.

The Dark Academia genre really appealed to me as a writer and reader because I have always enjoyed academia and studying, and the aesthetic of it calls to me as a lover of autumn.

So, I thought I'd share some Dark Academia books that I've read and enjoyed, for you to add to your autumn TBR.

Dark Academia Book Recommendations for Autumn

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

Synopsis: "Under the influence of their charismatic Classics professor, a group of clever, eccentric misfits at an elite New England college discover a way of thinking and living that is a world away from the humdrum existence of their contemporaries. But when they go beyond the boundaries of normal morality, their lives are changed profoundly and for ever as they discover how hard it can be to truly live and how easy it is to kill."

My Thoughts: I read The Secret History earlier this year because it's one of those books that people say everyone should read at least once. It is often regarded as the 'classic' Dark Academia novel, and that is why it should definitely be on your autumn TBR.

I did enjoy reading The Secret History and following the story unravel. I will say that compared to some other Dark Academia novels, it was not as fast-paced, so it took me a while to get through it.

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio

Synopsis: "Oliver Marks has just served ten years for the murder of one of his closest friends – a murder he may or may not have committed. On the day he's released, he's greeted by the detective who put him in prison. Detective Colborne is retiring, but before he does, he wants to know what really happened ten years ago.

As a young actor studying Shakespeare at an elite arts conservatory, Oliver noticed that his talented classmates seem to play the same roles onstage and off – villain, hero, tyrant, temptress – though Oliver felt doomed to always be a secondary character in someone else's story. But when the teachers change up the casting, a good-natured rivalry turns ugly, and the plays spill dangerously over into life.

When tragedy strikes, one of the seven friends is found dead. The rest face their greatest acting challenge yet: convincing the police, and themselves, that they are blameless."

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved If We Were Villains. For me, it is one of my favourite books I've ever read, although a lot of readers, particularly fans of The Secret History, say it isn't as good as Tartt's novel.

However, I found If We Were Villains so easy to read; it is a gripping novel that blends murder and academia so seamlessly that I didn't want it to end. And to prove how much I loved this novel, I even used it as a basis for a research project for my degree.

Babel by R.F. Kuang

Synopsis: "Traduttore, traditore: An act of translation is always an act of betrayal. Oxford, 1836.

The city of dreaming spires. It is the centre of all knowledge and progress in the world. And at its centre is Babel, the Royal Institute of Translation. The tower from which all the power of the Empire flows.

Orphaned in Canton and brought to England by a mysterious guardian, Babel seemed like paradise to Robin Swift. Until it became a prison…

But can a student stand against an empire?"

My Thoughts: When people ask for Dark Academia book recommendations, Babel is often one of the most common answers. So, naturally, I needed to read it.

Having read R.F. Kuang's Yellowface, I knew I would probably enjoy her writing style, and I did. Babel is such a complex story, but so well-written. However, it does rely heavily on academia and using language as a way to critique colonialism; it is done so well, but I found it challenging at times to stay engrossed in the story because of the foreign languages and the footnotes that are present throughout.

That being said, I am really glad I read Babel.

The Maidens by Alex Michaelides

Synopsis: "YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN THE MAIDENS. The Maidens are Cambridge University's most exclusive society, whose members are selected by the charismatic professor of Greek tragedy, Edward Fosca.

A SECRETIVE SET OF THE BRIGHTEST, MOST CAPTIVATING STUDENTS.

When one of the Maidens is murdered, grieving young therapist Mariana Andros is drawn back to the idyllic campus where she was once herself a student.

THE GROUP FROM WHICH EACH VICTIM WILL BE CHOSEN. Because beneath the university's ancient traditions and beauty is a web of secrets, jealousy and lies. And when the killer threatens the person she loves most, Mariana will give anything to stop them - even her own life..."

My Thoughts: When I read The Maidens, I didn't really know what to expect. However, I thoroughly enjoyed it because the atmosphere in this book was incredible. It has the perfect Dark Academia vibes for autumn with the moody and misty Cambridge University as its setting.

I thought the plot of this novel was complex, and I found myself trying to work out what was happening and almost playing detective. It's different to other Dark Academia novels as the protagonist is an adult returning to her university, rather than a current student, but it was an enjoyable read all the same.

Starling Nights by Merit Niemeitz

Synopsis: "Some secrets are written in the stars. Others hide in the shadows.

There were many myths told about Cambridge. Stories woven from rumour and skewed half-truths, the thin fabric passed from hand to hand in the shadows. The university kept the true, unfiltered secrets of this place. Only a select few were capable of understanding what it had to tell. People like us. We understood because we were part of it. Because we were the biggest secret of all.

Cambridge student Mabel Golding learned long ago to keep her head down and avoid getting entangled in other people’s drama, but when her best friend, Zoe, is drawn into the circle of a mysterious student society with centuries of history, Mabel feels inordinately uneasy. Even more so when she soon finds herself dangerously close to the heart of The League of Starlings, and to its inscrutable leader, Blake…"

My Thoughts: I originally bought this book in the Kindle 99p deals, not really knowing much about it. But when I discovered it was Dark Academia and a translated novel too, I knew I had to pick it up.

From the start, I was immersed in the world that Merit created. This book just pulls you in and doesn't let you go. I really enjoyed Starling Nights and wished it were longer because I didn't want the story to end. It is detailed, atmospheric, and intriguing. A must-read for fans of Dark Academia and YA novels with a hint of the supernatural.

Sorrowsong University Duology by Autumn Woods

Nightshade - Book One

Synopsis: "He’d burn the world down for her . . . but she plans to burn his to the ground.

Isolated in the Scottish Highlands, Sorrowsong University only welcomes students from the most powerful families. Ophelia Winters doesn’t belong, but a rare scholarship grants her the perfect opportunity to investigate her parents’ ‘accidental’ death near the castle grounds.

Things get off to a rocky start when she runs afoul of the mysterious Alex Corbeau-Green – son of her prime suspect. As far as she’s concerned, he is just a younger version of his billionaire father. A monster hiding beneath a beautiful façade.

When an unknown tormentor begins to stalk Ophelia, she realizes she may not be able to survive Sorrowsong on her own. Alex becomes her unexpected ally – and alibi for murder. And as she begins to fall for the soft heart that hides beneath his hard exterior, her hunger for revenge wavers for the first time.

Can she really bring herself to destroy everything he’s ever known?"

Daybreak - Book Two

Synopsis: "Now his world is burning down, and Ophelia Winters is desperate to prove she didn’t strike the match. When she first joined Sorrowsong University, she wanted nothing more than to destroy Alex and his high-powered family. But that was before she knew him – before she fell for the man behind the reputation.

In the face of an unthinkable betrayal and the disappearance of his father, Alex is forced to return to New York, hoping to forget what he had with Ophelia and to undo the damage done to his family.

In Scotland, Ophelia is left reeling, alone ... and watched. With a new anonymous tormentor threatening them both, the pair find themselves drawn back to one another. But can they rebuild the love and trust between them? And, even if they can, will it be enough to keep them alive?"

My Thoughts: I absolutely loved both Nightshade and Daybreak. This duology is one of the best duologies I've read, and they are two of my favourite Dark Academia novels.

Autumn Woods's writing is flawless, and the characters make you fall in love with them from the very start. I really enjoyed the tension and the banter within this book, and how the plot unfolds. Plus, the flirting via crossword clues really made me smile.

Where to read them

All of these books are available on Amazon, so if I've tempted you into picking any of these books up, I hope you enjoy them.

If you've got more recommendations of your own, feel free to leave a comment.

Until next time...